---
title: "Proving the Impossible is Impossible is Possible: Disproofs Based on Hereditary Partitions"
authors:
  - "Laurent Siklóssy"
  - "John W. Roach"
doi: ""
url: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1973/49"
pdf: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/1973/0049.pdf"
venue: "Proceedings of the Third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence"
year: 1973
pages: "383-386"
track: "Robot Problem Solving"
keywords:
---

# Proving the Impossible is Impossible is Possible: Disproofs Based on Hereditary Partitions

Laurent Siklóssy, John W. Roach

*Proceedings of the Third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence*, pages 383-386.

## Abstract

A novel technique, called hereditary partitions, is introduced. It permits the rigorous proof that, in a gi v en axiomatization, certain - states can never be re a ched. The technique is implemented in a computer pro gram, DISPROVER, and is applied to robot worlds . DISPROVER cooperates with a path-finding program when the latter encounters difficulties. ~words: Robot Planning; Impossible Tasks; Theorem Pro v er; Statement Disprover; Disproof; Hereditary Properties; Hereditar y Partitions; Problem Solving.